The view from the Emirates

Matthew Burnham from the Arsenal Times forum provides the view from the Emirates as Liverpool look for their first win of 2011-12.

Thoughts on the game?

Certain things seem to be conspiring against us, or to be precise, Arsene Wenger. We've let significantly more first team players leave than have joined, we've managed to generate a hefty list of injuries via our pre-season programme, and we came out badly in our annual fight with Joey Barton, accruing two suspensions. We needed a kind set of opening fixtures given the summers' troubles; these are testing to say the least. But, we were far from shaky against Newcastle last week, and we traditionally start the season very well.

Best and worst thing about a trip to the Emirates?

The best thing about the Emirates is the ground itself. It is a very modern 'customer friendly' ground, as your regular visitors will appreciate. You shouldn't have to queue to get in, or for drink, or for food, or to get out again. The views are great, and the noise is a lot better than people tend to tell you. The worst are our terrible player announcements at the start of the game, where the PA shouts 'ROBIN' and the crowd are encouraged to scream back 'VAN PERSIE'. With some of our less popular players this can be very embarrassing indeed.

One song we're bound to hear?

Well, being honest, the home fans tend not to generate a rich variety of songs, at least not at the Clock End. You've obviously done the opposite to us and spent some money this summer so if your Hendersons, your Carrolls, and your Downings are not on their game then this opinion might be voiced.

Where can away fans enjoy a pint and a bit of grub?

The Drayton Arms near the bridge by the away end is the traditional away fans pub. But if you want to go further afield away fans sometimes go down Upper Street in Islington where there are a lot of places to eat and drink. You aren't really short of options at Arsenal, to be honest, and the home fans are generally placid, friendly people as long as everyone is sensible.

How sad were you to see Cesc Fabregas go?

I am a realist, and I don't believe a club can progress with a captain that clearly doesn't want to be there. So I was pleased, frankly. But that is not the common view amongst Arsenal fans. A lot of the younger ones particularly, did not appear to want to confront the inevitable, and are now devastated. He wasn't a bad kid and there isn't much blame held against him for doing what he did.

Who makes Arsenal tick in his absence?

Well, that's' the million dollar question, seeing as Fabregas has been the only thing making us tick for about the last three years. I would have said Nasri, but I very much doubt we'll see him on Saturday. Wilshere would be the next option, and certainly he could end up being a better player than either of them. Whether he is fit or not remains to be seen.

Liverpool players you'd secretly love to have in the Arsenal dressing room?

I don't make any secret of it actually, Luis Suarez. Great, great player and very much the sort of creative tricky option that we should have gone for to take us to the next level. I think he will turn out to be one of the best bits of business in EPL history. That said, he was subdued when Liverpool came to ours last season. I am hoping he takes a few more weeks to discover his form this time.

How do you stop Arsenal's brand of football?

Well, its' pretty well known isn't it, just park the proverbial bus in our penalty box and be as cagey as possible in the other half of the field. The list of teams who have done it successfully is now quite long. Fabregas used to find little chinks in the armour but if that inspiration is missing, we tend to just pass the ball neatly across the pitch, and then back again, for long periods of time.

If you were Arsene Wenger a day, what's the first thing you'd do?

I might take the fans up on their recent suggestions and 'spend some money'.

Prediction?

We're never as bad as we think we are going to be, and it is rare for us to lose at home. I would say 1-1, like last year. Van Persie doing the business for us and maybe Caroll for you. But that said, you've caught us at a good time.